Controversial law on seabed ownership passed.

In 2004, the New Zealand government passed the Foreshore and Seabed Act, a controversial piece of legislation that sought to address the issue of indigenous land rights. The Act declared that the foreshore and seabed belonged to the Crown, effectively preventing Maori communities from pursuing claims to these areas through the court system. The passing of the Act sparked widespread protests and legal challenges from Maori groups who saw it as a violation of their rights and an infringement on their ability to protect and preserve their ancestral lands. The Maori community argued that the foreshore and seabed held significant cultural and historical value, and that their customary rights to these areas should be recognized and respected. The Act had far-reaching implications, straining the relationship between the government and the Maori community and highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding indigenous land rights in New Zealand. It also led to a reevaluation of the Treaty of Waitangi, the founding document of New Zealand that guarantees Maori rights and protections. Despite the government's intentions to provide clarity and certainty around ownership of the foreshore and seabed, the Act ultimately deepened divisions and created a legacy of mistrust and discontent within the country. The passing of the Act marked a turning point in the ongoing struggle for indigenous rights in New Zealand and continues to be a contentious issue to this day. #ForeshoreAndSeabedAct #MaoriRights #IndigenousLandRights